Collapsible anchor



Nov. 19, 1963 H. H. HENRY EIAL COLLAPSIBLE ANCHOR Filed April 9, 1962 Fig Harald H Henry 8 Ray McLaughlin INVENTOR BY l/galm A rry's United States Patent ()1 3,1 1 1,107 Patented Nov. 19, 1963 ice 3,111,1(9'7 CQLLAPSIBLE ANCHGR Harold H. Henry, 3452 F-ilverton Road, and Ray Mc- Laughlin, 238 Draper Sh, both of Salem, Oreg. Filed Apr. 9, 1 .962, Ser. No. 185,947 2 Claims. (Cl. ll42ll8) This invention relates to anchors for boa-ts and the like, and more particularly to a collapsible anchor having anchor tlukes that may be folded up when the anchor is placed in storage.

Such collapsible anchors have particular utility for small boat owners, in that they are more easily handled than rigid anchors and take up less space in the boat when not in use. There is the additional factor that with pointed flukes, particularly in anchors having four flukes, a hazardous condition exists where the flukes are nonfolding. Such an anchor usually rests in a stable manner only on its side, and in this position the end of a fluke may be pointed into the hull of the boat. This obviously may be a potential source of injury to the boat hull. The other flukes may endanger the passengers.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved collapsible anchor that, with flukes folded, is compact and easily handled, and that, with dukes unfolded, performs all of the functions desired in a practical anchor.

According to this i 'ention, and in a preferred embodiment, the anchor comprises a hollow anchor shank, with a butt plate joined to one end, and with anchor flukes pivoted on the butt plate at locations spaced laterally from the anchor shank. Mechanism is provided for holding the fiukes either in a laterally extended position, or in a folded-up position, such including a rod extending through the interior of the anchor shank and a jamb plate connected to the rod that is effective to lock the flakes in position.

The anchor is characterized by a number of features that make it easy to use and practical. For one thing, it features a collar for attaching an anchor line to the anchor, that is shiftably and rotatably mounted on the anchor shank, and slidable longitudinally of the shank. The collar provides a floating connection for the end of an anchor line, whereby with the anchor on a river bottom and the like, the anchor may be pulled upwardly using the anchor line either from adjacent the base of the anchor or adjacent the top thereof. The collar provides a floating connection for the end of an anchor line, but does not interfere with the mechanism provided in the anchor for locking the fiukes in their extended and folded positions.

Preferably the anchor has bowed flukes, with nonivoted ends turned inwardly toward the anchor shank with the flakes folded up. Since the bot-tom, pivoted ends of the flukes are pivoted to the anchor at locations spaced laterally of the anchor shank, the fiukes in their folded position bound an annular space extending about the anchor shank. This space may receive the collar with the anchor collapsed. The anchor shank preferably includes a projecting portion that extends above the tops of the nonpivoted ends of the fiukes with the flukes folded, and this projecting portion provides a means for gripping the anchor while manipulating the means provided in the anchor for locking the fiukes in place.

A more specific object, therefore, is the provision of a collapsible anchor where a novel means is provided for making a floating connection between the end of an anchor line and the anchor.

A further object is to provide such an anchor where the floating connection is by means of a collar slidably mounted on the anchor shank, and such collars movement is limited to positions on the shank that do not encumber the making of adjustments in the anchor.

Yet another object is to provide a collapsible or foldable anchor, where the collar mentioned may be shifted within the space bounded by the flukes when the latter are folded. The collar then is protected by the fiukes, and the anchor itself as a result is a more compact and easily handled unit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an anchor constructed according to one embodiment, such anchor having flukes pivotally connected thereto and such flukes being shown in their folded position;

FIG. 2 illustrates the anchor in FIG. 1, but with the flukes in their laterally extended position; and

MG. 3 is a perspective view, on a slightly smaller scale, illustrating the anchor with flukes extended, and showing one of the Ways in which the anchor may be lifted from a river bottom and the like.

Referring now to the drawings, the anchor contemplated is indicated generally at 10. The anchor comprises an elongated hollow anchor shank 12, which in the embodiment illustrated comprises an elongated cylindrical tube section, and joined to the base or bottom end of shank 12 a butt plate 1.4. The butt plate is positioned with the anchor shank substantially normal to the butt plate.

Butt plate 14 has a substantially square outline (as perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 3). Joined to each of the straight margins of the butt plate is an anchor fluke 16. The fiukes are joined to the butt plate through hinges 18. Hinges 18 accommodate pivotal movement of the flukes from the folded position shown for the dukes in solid outline in FIG. 1, outwardly past the position for the fiukes indicated generally in dashed outline in FIG. 1, to the laterally extended position illustrated in FIG. 2.

As already indicated, means is provided for holding the fiukes in either their laterally extended or folded positions. Such means is indicated generally at 26 and comprises an elongated rod 22 extending axially through the hollow center of shank l2. Ends 22a, 22b of rod 22 project outwardly from either end of shank l2. Secured to top end 22a is a knob 24 constituting an actuating member for means 29. Secured to bottom end 2212 is a jamb plate 26 substantially paralleling butt plate 14,. A coiled compression spring 28 encircles the lower end of rod 22 between jamb plate 26 and butt plate 14.

With the jamb plate in the position shown in solid outline in FIG. 1, and with the fiukes in their folded position (so that they extend alongside the anchor shank), spring 28 is compressed, and the perimeter of the jamb plate is inside the lower ends 16a of the flukes. In this position, the jamb plate inhibits swinging of the flukes outwardly to their laterally extended position. When the jamb plate is moved from this position downwardly to the position shown in dashed outline in FIG. 1, spring 28 relaxes, and clearance is provided for the ends 16a of the flukes, enabling them to swing to a position where they lie fiat against the bottom face of butt plate 14. If the jamb plate is now drawn upwardly, by drawing rod 22 upwardly, compression spring 23 will fit itself inside ends 16a of the flukes and again be compressed. The fiukes will now be locked in their laterally extended position, as shown in FIG. 2.

Means is provided for making a floating connection between the end of an anchor line (such as line 36 shown in FIG. 3) and anchor 10. In the embodiment illustrated, this means comprises a collar 31 encircling shank 12. The collar has an eye portion 32 integral therewith. The outer dimensions of collar 3%, including eye portion 32, are less than the outer dimensions of the butt plate. Thus the bottom ends of flukes 16 are pivoted on the butt plate at locations spaced laterally outwardly of the collar. Limiting movement of the collar along a reach or expanse of shank 12 is butt plate 14 at the bottom end of the shank, and an annular flange 34 adjacent the top end of the shank.

I Flukes 16 are bowed, and have outer ends 16b opposite ends 16a that, with the flukes in their folded position, turn inwardly toward the anchor shank. Because of this bowed construction, the flukes bound an annular space extending about the shank. The collar has a size that fits within this space. Thus, the collar may be placed adjacent the bottom end of the shank, and the flukes then folded, with the flukes then effective to surround the collar and confine it to movement along a bottom portion only of the shank. The result is a more compact construction, and greater ease in handling the anchor, especially when making andjustments in the anchor.

Shank 12 has a top end portion 12a that projetcs beyond the nonpivoted ends of the flukes with the flukes folded (see FIG. 1). This projecting portion provides a means for gripping the anchor while making adjustments therein using knob 24.

Jamb plate 26 is locked in a position holding flukes 16 in their laterally extended or their folded position by means of a pin 38 secured to rod 22 and projecting out to one side of the rod. Anchor shank 12 along one side thereof is provided with a downwardly extending slot or detent portion 40. With rod 22 turned so that the pin 38 lies over the top edge of the anchor shank, the jamb plate is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and effective to lock the flukes in place. Spring 28 exerts a force on the rod whereby the rod is urged downwardly in shank 12, producing frictional engagement of the pin with the top edge of the shank. If the rod is turned so that pin 38 overlies slot 40, the pin is free to travel down into the slot, enabling the rod and jamb plate to shift downwardly to a position where the flukes are released.

Knob 24, or the means for actuating means 20, is positioned above flange 34, or above the upper limit position for collar 30. This contributes to ease in making adjustments in the anchor.

As already discussed somewhat briefly, a floating con-' nection between the anchor line and anchor is important, in case the anchor should become entangled on the bottom of a river or other body of water. Referring to FIG. 3, here the anchor is shown wedged between some rocks, typifying such a condition. In such a position, if a pull were exerted on the top of the anchor, such would only serve to twist the anchor, but would not necessarily force it free. The anchor would best be pulled free by exerting a pull on the anchor adjacent its flukes. The floating connection discussed enables the end of the anchor line to be shifted toward the base of shank 12 (which in FIG. 3 is shown in an elevated position), so that when the anchor line is pulled it will exert an upward force directly on the base of the anchor tending to free it.

The butt plate and jamb plate extend over relatively large expanses of the ends of flukes 16, with the flukes extended as in FIGS. 2 and 3 (the ends of the flukes beingsandwiched between the two plates). This contributes to rigidity and strength at the base of the anchor, which are important if the anchor is to function as intended.

Knob 24 preferably is a weighted knob, and functions as a counter balance for the other end of the anchor. With the anchor as shown in FIG. 3, the knob holds its top end down.

We claim:

1. An anchor comprising an elongated anchor shank, a butt plate joined to said shank at the bottom end thereof with the shank substantially normal to the butt plate, flukes pivotally connected to said butt plate at locations spaced laterally from the shank, said flukes being movable between a laterally extended position and a folded position where the flukes extend alongside the shank, a slidable collar for connecting an anchor line to the anchor slidably mounted on said shank for movement longitudinally therealong, said butt plate defining a limit position for said collar adjacent the bottom end of said shank, flange means adjacent the top of said shank defining a limit position for said collar adjacent the top end of said shank, means for holding the flukes in their laterally extended and folded positions including an adjustable member that is adjusted to accommodate a change in the position of the flukes, and an actuating member adjacent the top end of said shank connected to said adjustable member for adjusting the adjustable member, said actuating member being placed toward the top end of said shank from said flange means.

2. An anchor comprising an elongated anchor shank, a butt plate joined to said shank adjacent its bottom end with the shank substantially normal to the butt plate, flukes pivotally connected adjacent one set of ends to said butt plate at locations spaced laterally from said shank, said flukes being movable between a laterally extended position and a folded position where the flukes extend alongside the shank, said flukes being bowed and having ends opposite said one set of ends that with the flukes in their folded position turn inwardly toward said shank, said flukes in their folded position bounding an annular space extending about said shank, said shank having a projecting portion adjacent the top thereof that extends beyond said opposite ends of the flukes with the flukes in their folded position, a collar for connecting an anchor line to said anchor slidably mounted on said shank for movement therealong, flange means on said projecting portion of said shank defining an upper limit position for said collar adjacent the top end of the shank, said collar having a size that fits within the space bounded by said flukes with the flukes in their folded position, means for holding the flukes in their laterally extended and folded positions including an adjustable member that is adjusted to accommodate a change in the position of the flukes, and an actuating member adjacent the top end of the shank connected to said adjustable member for adjusting the adjustable member, said actuating member being placed toward the top end of said shank from said flange means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,857,875 Patton Oct. 28, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 76,773 Norway May 2, 1950 81,085 Norway Dec. 1, 1952 

1. AN ANCHOR COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ANCHOR SHANK, A BUTT PLATE JOINED TO SAID SHANK AT THE BOTTOM END THEREOF WITH THE SHANK SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE BUTT PLATE, FLUKES PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BUTT PLATE AT LOCATIONS SPACED LATERALLY FROM THE SHANK, SAID FLUKES BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A LATERALLY EXTENDED POSITION AND A FOLDED POSITION WHERE THE FLUKES EXTEND ALONGSIDE THE SHANK, A SLIDABLE COLLAR FOR CONNECTING AN ANCHOR LINE TO THE ANCHOR SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHANK FOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY THEREALONG, SAID BUTT PLATE DEFINING A LIMIT POSITION FOR SAID COLLAR ADJACENT THE BOTTOM END OF SAID SHANK, FLANGE MEANS ADJACENT THE TOP OF SAID SHANK DEFINING A LIMIT POSITION FOR SAID COLLAR ADJACENT THE TOP END OF SAID SHANK, MEANS FOR HOLDING THE FLUKES IN THEIR LATERALLY EXTENDED AND FOLDED POSITIONS INCLUDING AN ADJUSTABLE MEMBER THAT IS ADJUSTED TO ACCOMMODATE A CHANGE IN THE POSITION OF THE FLUKES, AND AN ACTUATING MEMBER ADJACENT THE TOP END OF SAID SHANK CONNECTED TO SAID ADJUSTABLE MEMBER FOR ADJUSTING THE ADJUSTABLE MEMBER, SAID ACTUATING MEMBER BEING PLACED TOWARD THE TOP END OF SAID SHANK FROM SAID FLANGE MEANS. 